Â鶹´«Ã½

World

    • Surprise blast of rock, water and steam in Yellowstone sends dozens running for safety

    In this photo released by the National Park Service, park staff assess the damage to Biscuit Basin boardwalks after a hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (National Park Service via AP) In this photo released by the National Park Service, park staff assess the damage to Biscuit Basin boardwalks after a hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (National Park Service via AP)
    Share
    CHEYENNE, Wyo. -

    A surprise eruption in Yellowstone National Park shot steam, water and dark-coloured rock and dirt high into the sky Tuesday and sent sightseers running for safety.

    The hydrothermal explosion happened around 10 a.m. in Biscuit Basin, a collection of hot springs a couple miles north of the famous Old Faithful Geyser.

    Video posted online showed a couple dozen people watching from a boardwalk as the eruption sprayed and grew in front of them. As water and debris began to fall, they ran to keep clear, some yelling "Back up!" and "Holy cow!" People then turned to watch the spectacle under a huge cloud of steam.

    No injuries were reported, but the Biscuit Basin area was closed for visitor safety. The eruption damaged a boardwalk that keeps people off Yellowstone's fragile and often dangerous geothermal areas.

    Vlada March was on a tour in the basin when her guide said something unusual was happening. March started taking video.

    "We saw more steam coming up and within seconds it became this huge thing," said March, a California real estate agent who was with her mom, husband and their two kids. "It just exploded and became like a black cloud that covered the sun."

    "I think our tour guide said 'Run,' and I started running and I started screaming at the kids, 'Run, run, run,' and I continued filming what I could," she said.

    In this image released by the USGS agency, a hydrothermal event is seen in Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park in 2009.Dramatic as it was, the latest was on the small side, according to the statement.

    Rocks that fell from the sky smashed the boardwalk they had been walking on. March's mom, who had been sitting on a bench near the explosion, was shaken and dirty but otherwise fine, she said.

    Walking back on the broken boardwalk "was a little scary," she said, "but thankfully it didn't break under us."

    Photos and video of the aftermath showed damaged guardrails and boards covered in rock and silt near muddy pools.

    The explosion could have resulted from a clogged passageway in the extensive natural plumbing network that underlies Yellowstone's world-famous geysers, hot springs and other thermal features, said scientist Mike Poland with the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

    A clog would have caused a buildup of heat and pressure such as happens inside a pressure cooker, he said, until the water suddenly flashed to steam, causing an instantaneous and huge expansion in volume and triggering the explosion.

    After viewing video from the event Poland estimated that the explosion sent material about 100 feet (30 metres) into the air.

    He said the explosion was "on the big side" of eruptions that occur periodically -- usually when no one is around let alone throngs of tourists.

    On occasion they get much bigger: The largest known crater from a hydrothermal explosion on Earth is in Yellowstone and measures 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) across, Poland said. Scientists theorize that a series of hydrothermal explosions created that crater some 13,800 years ago in the Mary Bay area on the northeastern side of Yellowstone Lake.

    By comparison, the crater from Tuesday's explosion will likely be measured in feet, Poland said.

    "What we saw today was spectacular and definitely hazardous. But on the scale of what the Yellowstone system has done in the past, it was relatively small," he said. "It's a very good reminder of an underappreciated hazard in Yellowstone."

    The explosion happened in or near Black Diamond Pool, a 120-foot-log (37-metre-long) hot pool that is the basin's widest thermal feature.

    A National Park Service aerial photo taken afterward showed the pool somewhat enlarged near the boardwalk compared to recent satellite images and its water turned a muddy beige. The deep Sapphire Pool about 100 yards (91 metres) away retained its usual blue hues.

    Park geologists were investigating what specifically happened in this case.

    Similar blasts have happened in Biscuit Basin in 2009, 1991 and after the magnitude 7.2 Hebgen Lake earthquake 40 miles (64 kilometres) away in 1959.

    Yellowstone is centered on a huge, dormant volcano. The hydrothermal explosion did not indicate new activity within the volcanic system, which remains at normal levels, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

    At least 22 people are known to have died from injuries related to thermal features in and around the 3,471-square-mile (9,000-square-kilometre) national park since 1890.

    Visitors are warned to stay on the boardwalks and trails in thermal areas, where some of the pools and springs have a thin, breakable crust covering the scalding and sometimes acidic water.

    ------

    Hanson reported from Helena, Montana, and Brown reported from Billings, Montana.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    The wildfire fight in central B.C. intensified Friday, according to officials.

    A university student from Brampton was killed when two shooters fired indiscriminately into a crowded plaza in Toronto last month in what police say was a 'cowardly act.'

    What some B.C. construction workers describe as the worst aspect of their jobs will be coming to an end next month, the province announced.

    Three teens were arrested for an armed robbery at a Kitchener jewelry store after witnesses caught and detained the suspects until officers arrived on scene.

    Mary Grace Rico is seeking help in getting treatment for a rare spinal condition.

    Canada

    • Guelph tenants worry they'll have find a new home after recently receiving N-13 notices from their new apartment owner.

    • Three teens were arrested for an armed robbery at a Kitchener jewelry store after witnesses caught and detained the suspects until officers arrived on scene.

    • Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs will lie in state at the provincial legislature following her sudden death.

    • Mary Grace Rico is seeking help in getting treatment for a rare spinal condition.

    • Nearly seven weeks since a wildfire forced the evacuation of Jasper National Park and burned nearly a third of the townsite's structures, Parks Canada says the blaze is now officially under control.

    • What some B.C. construction workers describe as the worst aspect of their jobs will be coming to an end next month, the province announced.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    • It’s been just over a week since the federal government banned nicotine pouches from being sold anywhere other than a pharmacy.

    • Mary Grace Rico is seeking help in getting treatment for a rare spinal condition.

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    • The Worm made a guest appearance on WWE's Smackdown at Rogers Place Friday night.

    • An emotional memorial was held Friday for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau at their old high school in Gloucester City, New Jersey.

    Autos

    • Nearly two-dozen drivers were caught in a speed trap outside a Vancouver elementary school on Thursday – as students were settling back into their daily routines.

    • An Ontario man said he couldn't believe an electric car he bought three years ago for $20,000 would need a new battery at a cost of more than $33,000.

    Local Spotlight

    Roger Barker was looking forward to exchanging a book at one of the Little Free Libraries that had been erected in his neighbourhood, until he found it vandalized.

    You never know what you might find in your doorbell camera footage...

    Brenda Tremblay has been an avid gardener for the last 40 years, but this year’s harvest in Colpitts Settlement, N.B., is a tough nut to crack.

    A group of seniors in Ontario is offering their time and experience as parents struggle to find reliable child care spaces.

    Saskatchewan man Clyde Hall has been collecting and restoring antique farm equipment for five decades. He's now ready to part with his collection.

    An Ottawa man has won the $3.8 million prize in the 'Catch the Ace' draw in Maniwaki, Que. Local radio station CHGA 97.3 has been playing their version of 'Catch the Ace' for nearly a year without a winner.

    Herds of salamanders are crossing the road in western Manitoba by the dozens.

    A black bear cub survived a 10-hour drive to Windsor while being fed Taco Bell after being found in the middle of a road near Cochrane, Ont.

    A British Columbia woman who unsuccessfully sued her downstairs neighbour last fall for making too much noise has now failed in a bid to sue her upstairs neighbour for being too loud.

    • One of the vessels that services the busy Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route will be out of commission for about six months after its propeller fell off, according to BC Ferries.

    • Tennis players were in for a nasty surprise at a Victoria park on Friday, when feces were discovered smeared around the courts.

    • Mounties in northwestern B.C. say they have arrested the suspect in a fatal shooting almost exactly a year after it occurred.

    • A university student from Brampton was killed when two shooters fired indiscriminately into a crowded plaza in Toronto last month in what police say was a 'cowardly act.'

    • A Peterborough police officer has been charged with breach of trust and possession of property obtained by crime.

    • A woman is in hospital in life-threatening condition after she was struck in a hit-and-run in Whitby early Saturday morning.

    • Calgary water consumption ticked up to 505 million litres Friday as sweltering mid-summer temperatures drove up demand.

    • An emotional memorial was held Friday for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau at their old high school in Gloucester City, New Jersey.

    • The Bank of Canada has lowered its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 per cent.

    • Ottawa Fire Services says two adults have been displaced following a fire that started in the garage of their home in Orleans Friday evening.

    • Canadian para canoeist Brianna Hennessy raced to her first Paralympic medal with a reminder of her mother on her paddle.

    • Brandon Reid was a promising NHLer for the Vancouver Canucks, but his struggles with addiction almost killed him. He now trains other addicts as they fight to stay sober.

    • Family and community members gathered in Montreal's Cartierville neighbourhood on Saturday to pay respects to a 14-year-old boy who was killed while riding a scooter in the summer.

    • A petition has garnered more than 10,000 signatures calling for the Quebec subsidy for service dogs to be extended to those with autism.

    • Nearly seven weeks since a wildfire forced the evacuation of Jasper National Park and burned nearly a third of the townsite's structures, Parks Canada says the blaze is now officially under control.

    • A woman is dead and a man is in hospital after an SUV and a pick-up truck crashed on Highway 13 near Sedgewick on Friday.

    • The family of a man shot and killed by police have launched a $1 million lawsuit against the Edmonton Police Service, the police chief and four officers.

    • The Nova Scotia RCMP has issued a formal apology to African Nova Scotians and people of African descent for the historic use of street checks and other harmful interactions.

    • The Nova Scotia Health Authority has released more information about the significant flooding at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on August 25.

    • Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs will lie in state at the provincial legislature following her sudden death.

    • The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 26-21 on Saturday, marking the team's fifth-straight victory and fifth Banjo Bowl win in a row.

    • Corn maze season has officially begun throughout Manitoba – a sign that fall is just around the corner.

    • The North Central Community Association has partnered with the Rainbow Youth Centre on a new mural in the heart of North Central.

    • A local elder was honoured at Westminster United Church on Saturday by having a medicine wheel dedicated to her.

    • The victory moved the Bombers into top spot in the CFL's West Division, while the Roughriders remain in third after failing to win for a seventh straight outing.

    • Three teens were arrested for an armed robbery at a Kitchener jewelry store after witnesses caught and detained the suspects until officers arrived on scene.

    • Guelph tenants worry they'll have find a new home after recently receiving N-13 notices from their new apartment owner.

    • Child care centres that decided not to participate in the national $10-a-day program will soon lose some of their provincial funding.

    • In the wake of the tragic incident of setting a student on fire at Evan Hardy Collegiate, Saskatoon Public Schools announced that it is providing counselling services to students and staff affected by the event.

    • The victory moved the Bombers into top spot in the CFL's West Division, while the Roughriders remain in third after failing to win for a seventh straight outing.

    • Broadway avenue was alive with the bustle of Saskatoon residents enjoying their weekend. The street was closed off and turned into a pedestrian walkway for a massive street festival that saw thousands of participants.

    • A veteran staff sergeant with the Ontario Provincial Police in Sudbury has been sentenced for stealing two items from a First Nations man and hiding what he did while his fellow officers searched for them.

    • Hamilton Police are warning locals of the discovery of fentanyl-laced gummies 'disguised as candy,' after finding them during a recent warrant.

    • The City of London’s municipal enforcement team spent Saturday at 700 units on Kipps Lane, helping tenants address property standards issues.

    • The Strathroy-Caradoc police are investigating a robbery and stabbing following an incident early Saturday morning.

    • The trial of former Woodstock mayor, Trevor Birtch, continued on Friday.

    • Three vehicles were involved in a crash on Bayshore Drive near Frank Street in Midland on Saturday.

    • Officers from Southern Georgian OPP are investigating an alleged overnight sexual assault incident in Midland last weekend.

    • The 35th annual Parkinson Canada 'SuperWalk' in Barrie on Saturday raised more than $30,000 to support Parkinson's Disease research.

    • The Special Investigations Unit’s (SIU) forensic investigators remain on scene Saturday afternoon following Friday’s fatal shooting involving a Windsor police officer.

    • VIDEO

      VIDEO

      Citing a vibrant business and dining scene, more active streets and a perception of greater safety, residents at a new event in Walkerville say the neighborhood has become Windsor's "new downtown," outshining the traditional core as the city's most desirable place to be — day or night.

    • Chatham-Kent police are reminding drivers to watch for deer while out on the roads, especially at dusk and dawn.

    • Tennis players were in for a nasty surprise at a Victoria park on Friday, when feces were discovered smeared around the courts.

    • One of the vessels that services the busy Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route will be out of commission for about six months after its propeller fell off, according to BC Ferries.

    • Police in Victoria say they arrested a man they found in possession of a loaded handgun and more than $29,000 worth of cash earlier this week.

    • Mounties in northwestern B.C. say they have arrested the suspect in a fatal shooting almost exactly a year after it occurred.

    • A man has now been charged for his alleged role in a hit-and-run that killed a teenager in Kelowna, B.C., last fall.

    • Mounties in Kelowna are appealing to the public for help reuniting a stolen puppy named Lulu with its owner.

    • It’s been just over a week since the federal government banned nicotine pouches from being sold anywhere other than a pharmacy.

    • A more inclusive and welcoming land acknowledgment has been released by the City of Lethbridge.

    • Those looking to do some de-cluttering ahead of the fall can put their unwanted items on their front lawn for the annual Reuse Rendezvous this weekend.

    • The Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 Gathering 2024 will take place in Greater Sudbury at the Anderson Farm Museum on Sept. 8 and 9.

    • A pasta shortage in Sault Ste. Marie is almost never the case, but for one local food bank, the common carb was a rare sight just a few weeks ago.

    • A 41-year-old resident of the Sault is accused of posing as a teacher from Wasaga Beach and threatening a child from a nearby community into sending intimate images of themselves.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at Â鶹´«Ã½. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹´«Ã½